Mike's Visit to Tucson Arizona and the Cat Realm

Mike's Adventures in the Desert

Mike here:

View the slideshow of all the picutres at the very end...

Oh, the fun begins again. I've taken quite a hiatus from traveling. The last time I went on an adventure was for a week in November, 2007. I had visited Yoggie in Sweden.

I came home from that trip to a chaotic household. Gretchen's Mom Bean (my Mom Bean, too, actually) was ill, our Pa Bean was ill. There had been a death in the family and My Granny Bean was very sick, too.

So it was decided that I stay home for the rest of the year. We had a pleasant Christmas, everyone was much improved by then and I just lay around resting and enjoying the season with my adopted family. I was supposed to start traveling again in January, but there were some technical difficulties to the places I was supposed to visit and more trouble with Mom Bean's heart, so I didn't actually get back out onto the cyber highway until February 21, 2008 when I transported over to spend a week with my pals in the Cat Realm who live in the desert—Tucson, Arizona.

The Cat Realm created a transporter room for me, and Gretchen, at the controls, got to send me on my way. I must say I was pretty nervous at first; I wasn't so sure Gretchen knew how to operate the control panel. But everything went fine. It was so cool, Gretchen counted backwards…3…2…1…and before I could say goodbye, this bright light enveloped me and my little red traveling bag, my melted fur began to buzz a bit, and then I was flying through the wormhole. I could feel the air getting warm as I got closer to the end of the tunnel.

Mrs. Oz, who had been appointed by the Cat Realm to be my official tour guide, had been expecting me and was outside waiting for me. I never, ever, know just exactly where I will materialize, so it was just as much a surprise to me as it was to Mrs. Oz that I popped out of thin air right in front of her face. Evidently, Mrs. Oz had been to a party the night before and had consumed quite a number of nipitini's, needless to say, she had a headache and was a little out of sorts when I startled her by the Yucca plant in her garden.

After my brain-twisting trip through the wormhole, and the different climate that I was definitely not used to, Mrs. Oz took me inside to a lovely spot in front of the cozy fireplace where I could take a nap. She built the fire just for me. She curled up beside me and napped, too. It was cool enough that I actually needed to pull out my favorite blue blanket and wrap up in it. It's supposed to be sunny and warm in Arizona, isn't it? Mrs. Oz told me that normally Tucson gets about 350 days of sunshine in a year, but it seems the sun disappeared and it turned cool just as I arrived.

There are three cats at the Cat Realm. Karl, Emil, and Mrs. Oz. Every morning they make a perimeter check around the house. Usually one of the staff, the Butler or the Maid, goes with them just in case there is a Coyote or a Bobcat lingering about. It was actually chilly outside and I had to wear one of my sweaters.

After our walk through the garden of cacti and yucca plants and palms, Mrs. Oz showed me where the outside bath tub was. It was too chilly to use it at this time of year, but it's the coolest thing—outside, surrounded by beautiful plants and art and little plastic yellow ducks everywhere. The place made me almost want to take a bath. And you all know the kind of bath I got last—in the washing machine and then the dryer…my melted fur was the result. So maybe I'll stay out of the tub for now.

Karl, Emil, and Mrs. Oz all had a good laugh remembering that their, now spirit sister, Anastasia, had once lost her glasses in the tub. Last year Anastasia went for a walk in the desert one day and never came back. I can tell by the way they talk about her that she was really special to them and that they miss her very much. I got Goosebumps…like she was nearby.

The next time we went outside it was to see the vegetable garden. I had to put on another sweater outfit because it had gotten colder. They have to keep the vegetable garden protected by fences to keep the vicious Javelina out. But the Butler had built a ladder for us and we got to visit the garden.

I have to tell you that everyone at the Cat Realm wears sunglasses. Even their big cactus wore sunglasses. I got to climb right up in the middle of this huge cactus and get my picture taken.

Because I'm fiber, stuffed with fiber, the prickly thorns don't bother me. I think it did worry Mrs. Oz, though. By-the-way, Mrs. Oz is sitting on the steps in front of their house. It's a cool house, too.

Besides the cats at the Cat Realm, there is Brody. He's a fluffhead like me, but he's a penguin from Antarctica. He wears sunglasses, too.

Karl, Emil and Mrs. Oz don't like leaving their ranch, so on my second day, when we visited the Saguaro National Park, Brody and a chap called Dicky Duck became my tour guides. Dicky Duck is a traveler, too.

First we went to the Tucson Rodeo Parade. There was so much going on that I couldn't take notes fast enough. But it was fantastic. The rodeo is all about horses. There are no motorized vehicles in the entire parade. There was a congresswoman in the parade and she let me ride on the back of her horse for a brief time. She was really nice, and it was really neat to ride on the back of a horse, a gentle swaying, up and down motion…the horses were walking very slowly. I imagine that if they had been running it would have been a very bumpy ride. The horse was all white. We didn't go to the actual rodeo. That would have been too much to do in one day. I bought some souvenirs at the parade. Two cowboy hats, a pink one and a blue one. Karl also gave me a real, authentic sombrero as a present.

On the way back we drove up a mountain to get a good view of Tucson. Wow. I made some notes as we drove over Gates Pass. There is this great view of the Baboquivair Mountains with Kitt Peak at their northern end. From our vantage point we could also see Old Tucson Studios where they say many movies, and the TV series, High Chaparral, were filmed. Brody said it's now a tourist attraction.



When we crossed over Gates Pass we drove into the Saguaro Forest. The saguaros are the largest cactus in the States. They get so high—like reaching 40 feet—and mostly just grow in southern Arizona and western Sonora. Of course, I had to have my picture taken in the giant cactus. Me, Dicky Duck, and Brody. The spines don't bother them either. Brody is a fluffhead and Dicky is plastic. It stayed pretty cloudy the whole time we were out there. Poor Dicky kept telling me the sun would definitely shine again. He said things look a lot better when the sun is out.



We stopped at the Parks Visitor's Center and I took more notes. There were lots of pictures to look at in the visitor's center. Dicky seemed quite spellbound by the pictures of the Javelina. They also had a lovely gift shop where I bought a little book about the desert for Gretchen—and some more souvenirs.

They also had this kind of hands on table that tourist could touch different things. Of course, here again, was another photo opportunity for me and Brody and Dicky. Because we are so small, we were allowed to get up on the table. There was a desert tortoise shell, a Javelina pelt, mule deer antlers, a javelin skull and a saguaro boot.

There's actually a little story about the saguaro boot. "The Gila Woodpecker uses the Saguaro, and burrows through its tough outer flesh into the body of the plant where there is plenty of moisture, and a relatively cool environment shaded from the searing desert sun. Once through the skin, the bird makes a sharp downward turn and hollows out a space for itself. A cactus, being little more than a living water container would continuously lose moisture, and be open to infection if it didn't do something to protect itself, so the Saguaro begins to exude a resinous sap around the void which the bird has made. The sap gradually solidifies to form a hard, bark-like substance around the wound, rather like a scab on animal skin, only this scab doesn't go away. The woodpecker has learned to leave the newly excavated burrow for a while in order to let the sap harden, although other birds sometimes decide to make it their own before the woodpecker returns, particularly desert owls."

It was a very educational trip to the desert. There was so much to see, so much beauty. Once we got home from our long drive, Dicky, Brody and I just had to have a nap in the furry cat bed by the window. A perfect end to a perfect day…even if the sun didn't shine.

It was Sunday Morning and bright blue skies were finally over us. I put on my western duds, my boots and sombrero that I brought along, then we headed out again on another tour. The sun is so warm here. It really makes a difference when the sun is out. Wow! Anyway, Dicky showed Brody and me a beautiful place that just takes your breath away. It juts right up out of nowhere. Big and white in the bright sun. It's called San Javier del Bac, or the white dove of the desert, but everybody just calls it "the mission." They said it took from 1783 to 1797 to get built. Four whole years. Wow! Some person, called Tohono O'odham built it under Franciscan and Spanish direction. They were working on part of it while we were there, fixing it up. I guess they are taking the old crumbling stucco off and putting on the more traditional plaster made from lime, sand and cactus mucilage. The gooey sticky slimy stuff from the inside of the cactus. Yuck. But I guess it works. We got to go inside the mission, too. Wow! There are really no words to describe how beautiful and big that place is. They had a place where you can buy special candles and light them for people who need their prayers answered. So Brody, Dicky and I bought a candle and lit for Gretchen's Mom Bean. We wanted her to have some extra help in getting well.

There were a lot of food booths for tourist outside the mission. I got to eat some traditional Indian Frybread! We met a guy at one of the food booths whose nickname was Duck. And another photo opportunity was born. The food guy, Duck, had his picture taken with Brody, Dicky Duck and me.

It was a good day and it's a good thing I had my boots and sombrero on, or I'd be sunburned. I know what you're thinking…a black fluffhead can't get sunburned. And while that is true, there is my plastic nose to consider…it could get soft and maybe melt. After we got back to the ranch we rested up for the Oscars. Later when the Oscars were on Mrs. Oz was glued to the TV set. The butler said she was just worried about an actress wearing a prettier fur than hers—and a crush on some guy actor.

We almost got in trouble later that night. We kind of had our own little After Oscar Party and we woke the maid. We had used the hearth for a makeshift stage. All the fluffheads of the Cat Realm were invited and we were having a raucous good time when the maid put the kibosh on the whole works. She said that is was in the middle of the night and we should be asleep. I was embarrassed that we had disturbed her in the dead of night. Mrs. Oz was kind of putout that our little party ended so quickly. But we had a good time while it lasted. Karl and Emil had been sleeping in the butler's place and missed the whole party.

Oh, and I want to mention how awesome the sunsets are out here…they take my breath away.

The rest of the week I just kicked back and napped with Emil and Brody in big furry cat bed. Emil gave me his red glasses to wear…don't I look just too cool? Anyway, after we rested a while, I did my interviews with Karl, Emil and Mrs. Oz. Once we had that out of the way we could have some more fun.

Friday I showed off my hats on The Cat Realm's blog. They dedicated Fashion Friday to Anastasia. They still miss her a lot. I wish I could have known her. I think we would have been friends, too.

Karl said that if I can come for another visit sometime, we'll go visit the infamous, Tombstone—you know, where they had the gunfight at the O.K. Corral! I understand there's only been a kazillion movies made about that gunfight. We might even try to get down to Nogales, Mexico and taste some wine in Nogales. Oh, I do hope I get to come back. I think I behaved myself pretty well, except maybe the After Oscars Party we threw in the middle of the night. The Cat Realm was a great host and pretty much wore me out. But I loved every minute of it. And they were kind enough to ship all my souvenirs home to Gretchen by the US Mail. Only my hats went with me through cyberspace.

Even a fluffhead knows that all good things must come to an end, sometime. I really had a great time and have made some new pals. Friday night, my new friends, Karl, Emil, Mrs. Oz, my buds Brody and Dicky came to the transport room with me to say goodbye. I gave them all hugs and thanked them over and over for such a great time, and then before I could blink I was whooshing back through the wormhole and plopped out in my very own control room that the Cat Realm built for me. Gretchen wasn't there right away. She was either off having a snack or a nap. But I didn't have to wait but a few minutes before she came and got me.

Exhausted as I was I had to tell Gretchen everything about the Cat Realm and how nice they were to me, how much fun we had and about all of my tours. She loved the new hats and though she's not keen about having things on her head or around her neck, I think I might be able to persuade her to pose with me someday, her wearing the pink one and me the blue one. The sombrero and those rattle things…hee, hee…they're all mine.

Now for my Interview with the Cat Realm—Karl, Emil, and Mrs. Oz:

Mike: How long have you lived with your bean(s)?
Karl: since October 2004
Mrs. OZ: since September 2007
Emil: since October 2007

Mike: Do you have a favorite bean?
Karl: the butler
Mrs. OZ: the maid
Emil: both

Mike: What's your favorite food?
Karl: beef
Mrs. OZ: stinky goodness
Emil: everything I can get my mouth on

Mike: What's your favorite treat?
Karl: butter
Mrs. OZ: stinky goodness
Emil: whatever they give me

Mike: Where do you like to sleep?
Karl: on the windowsill at the maid’s place, the dresser at the butler’s
Mrs. OZ: on the maid
Emil: on the bed

Mike: Do you dream? What are your dreams about?
Karl: lizards!
Mrs. OZ: to fly
Emil: food

Mike: Do you like fluffheads, you know, those crafty little creatures with fiberfill for brains?
Karl: I have a BIG dog fluffhead but I do not care for it
Mrs. OZ: couldn’t care less
Emil: sometimes I like to play with one for some seconds
ALL: but we all do like Brody!

Mike: How many fluffheads live with you and your bean?
Karl: don’t know
Mrs. OZ: don’t know either
Emil: no idea

Mike: Do you get along with your fluffheads? Really?
Karl: yes
Mrs. OZ: yes
Emil: I guess

Mike: Do have a special fluffhead friend?
Karl: Brody
Mrs. OZ: Brody
Emil: Brody

Mike: Do your fluffheads ever talk to you? Do they talk to your beans, you know, like I can transmit my thoughts to one special bean in my house?
Karl: of course, what a silly question…
Mrs. OZ: sure, why would he not?
Emil: yes, of course Brody talks to me

Mike: You have a very nice place here; tell me about your weather and your surroundings, what is it like outside your house? (Mountains, seaside, desert, woods, etc.)
Karl for all: we live in the Sonoran Desert. Outside of our house are cacti, mesquite tree, all kinds of shrubs, desert stuff. We live right on the East Side of the Tucson Mountains so we have a nice view of those. We also have lots of desert fauna: coyotes, bobcats, rattle snakes, owls, hawks on the negative side (they all prey on us), lizards, rabbits, birds, butterflies, mice, rats, spiders on the positive side (we prey on those)

Mike: Are you an inside only cat or do you get to go outside?
Karl for all: we go out after sunrise and have to be back in before sunset.

Mike: Do you keep secrets from your beans? Sometimes Gretchen and I conspire against her mom bean in the middle of the night. It really freaks her out. Do you do things like that?
Karl: no. I show them the lizards I catch – but I do keep them too by not letting the staff near me when I got one! Hahahahahahahahahaha
Mrs. OZ: no.
Emil: can’t talk about it – the staff might read this…

Mike: Have you been gifted with any hidden talents?
Karl: all my talents are out in the open.
Mrs. OZ: the staff just found out that I am a gifted hunter, in spite of my missing canines!
Emil: I can make myself invisible!

Mike: Is there anything in your house that bothers you? That you're afraid of?
Karl for all: no. If there would be we would have a talk with the staff and the thing in question would be removed.

Mike: Do you stalk and capture real live critters like mice, spiders and stuff? What kinds of critters do you stalk? Do you eat what you catch?
Karl: lizards, rats, rabbits, lizards, birds, lizards. Sometimes I eat them – sometimes I don’t.
Mrs. OZ: birds. I do not eat them, I kill them and play with them. The staff is not happy!
Emil: butterflies, lizards, rats so far. I am still honing my hunting skills!

Mike: Do you have siblings or housemates? Do you get along with them?
Karl for all: the three of us all get along fine. Emil interacts and plays with me and Mrs. OZ, Mrs. OZ and I tolerate each other but don’t really socialize.

Mike: Do you have a sweetheart?
Karl: RUIS, my wonderful fiancé RUIS! I love him very much!!!
Mrs. OZ: no.
Emil: I am not allowed. They say I am too young….

Mike: What is your most fun activity?
Karl: lizards
Mrs. OZ: laying on the maid
Emil: playing with the whirly bird toy

Adios amigos!